Italy Achieves Historic Rugby Victory Over England
In a landmark moment for Italian rugby, the Azzurri defeated England 23-18 on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. This marks Italy’s first-ever victory against England after 32 previous defeats.
Match Highlights
The match saw a closely contested battle, with England initially leading by as many as eight points (18-10). However, Italy fought back, securing the win with a try in the 72nd minute by Marin. Key moments included tries from Menoncello and Garbisi (twice) for Italy and tries from Freeman and another before halftime for England. A yellow card was issued to Nicotera in the 54th minute.
Six Nations Standings
This result has significant implications for the Six Nations standings. France, the defending champion, was surprisingly defeated by Scotland 50-40 earlier on Saturday, allowing Scotland to tie with France at 16 points each. Italy now sits in fourth place with 9 points, ahead of England (6 points) and Wales (1 point).
Upcoming Fixtures
The final round of matches in the Six Nations will feature:
- France vs. England in Paris
- Ireland vs. Scotland in Dublin
- Wales vs. Italy in Cardiff
England’s Struggles
This defeat represents England’s third consecutive loss in the tournament, following previous setbacks against Scotland (31-20) and Ireland (42-21).
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